The 3rd China (Zhangjiajie) World Heritage Photography Exhibition will be held in Zhangjiajie between November 16 and 22, 2025. A grand feast of photographic culture is about to unfold in Zhangjiajie, where the majestic landscapes of the world heritage site meet the living traditions of millennia-old intangible cultural heritage. Seven local intangible cultural heritage performances such as Zhangjiajie Yang Opera and Lantern Dance will be staged during the period. More than 600 participants will present over a hundred performances to immerse global visitors and Zhangjiajie residents in the unique charm of Zhangjiajie's intangible cultural heritage.

This intangible cultural heritage showcase has established a comprehensive and high-density display matrix. Four main venues feature scheduled performances daily, presenting classic repertoire in full. Multiple smaller stages throughout the downtown Zhangjiajie offer performances every ten minutes, allowing visitors to stumble upon cultural surprises while strolling. This "fixed-location + mobile-venue" arrangement ensures both the professionalism of the performances and the convenience of viewing, maximizing the appeal of intangible cultural heritage.

Each intangible cultural heritage item showcased in the performance possesses its own unique charm, with Yang Opera and Lantern Dance being the most representative. Zhangjiajie Yang Opera, with its three-century history, is rooted in the Tujia dialect. Its distinctive singing style, characterized by the seamless transition between chest voice and head voice commonly referred to as "golden thread suspends gourd" melody, carries a unique resonance. The down-to-earth plots vividly portray the joys and sorrows of the Tujia people. Originating in the Eastern Han Dynasty (25AD-220AD), the High Lantern Dance features twelve colorful lanterns forming over twenty formations like the "Taiji Diagram" and the "Single-File Snake." The shifting lights radiate an ancient yet bold spirit. The performances of these seven intangible cultural heritage items will bring a vivid picture of Tujia culture to the audience.

This cultural extravaganza has already sparked anticipation. Many photographers expressed their eagerness for the intangible cultural heritage exhibition, stating that besides capturing the landscapes through their lenses, they are even more eager to record the cultural soul of Zhangjiajie. From scenic stage to the exhibition, Zhangjiajie's intangible cultural heritage is making the leap from obscurity to international acclaim. These performances will not only infuse cultural connotations into the photography exhibition, but also breathe new life into intangible heritage through global exchange, writing a new chapter in "encouraging positive interplay between culture and tourism."

This article is from the Hunan Provincial Government www.enghunan.gov.cn.

Translator: Yu Jiangjiang

Chinese source: hunantoday